This may be a dumb question, but on the PBA circuit, what makes a major tournament a major tournament?

I know that I've heard them comment on the US Open (I'm pretty sure it was the US Open), about it having the most difficult oil pattern. And, they commented on the show that a small move on that pattern could have unexpected results.

So, is it just that the majors have the most difficult Oil Patterns, or is there something else, that I'm missing?

And, it seems to me like there are about 4 of them per season. I'm thinking there is the US Open, the TOC, the World Championship, and it seems like I just had another one in my mind, but I lost it, like perhaps the Masters?

The announcers really make a big deal about the Majors. So, I was really wondering why. I probably could have googled it, but I'll probably get better answers from the bowling community.

I want to ask a couple of other PBA questions, but will put them in separate threads.

The Majors historically have the hardest patterns, the most grueling formats, and the most money (Mika Koivuniemi won $250k at the 2011 ToC). The four you listed are the four modern majors, though the USBC Masters has only been included on the list since the early 2000s, and a few other tournaments were considered majors at one point or another.

They are a big deal to all tour players and fans of the game. Winning multiple in a career can land you in the Hall of Fame.

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